Steven Moffat and the cast of the 50th anniversary Doctor Who special reveal
tantalising insights into the new episode

Ahead of its broadcast on 23 November, Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat and the cast have revealed tantalising new details about 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor.

Steven Moffat, the show’s lead writer and executive producer, said that the experience of writing the anniversary special was “exciting and terrifying – everything that showbiz should be.”

Moffat’s previous comments that the episode “will change the narrative in a big way” encouraged speculation that writers havefound a solution to the fact that the Doctor can only regenerate twelve times. He has now further added to this by saying, “This should be the next step on the journey, guaranteeing the 100th anniversary”.

He said: “The story focuses on the most important thing that ever happened to the Doctor. We very rarely do that in Doctor Who as it’s usually about the people the Doctor meets or the companion that travels with him. This time it’s different.”

In terms of a synopsis, the official press release says: “In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.”

Departing Doctor Matt Smith heads the cast of the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. Credit: BBC

Moffat clearly has the Doctor’s future firmly at the front of his mind in the anniversary special, saying, “I didn’t want this to be a celebration of the past.” Instead, it focuses on a “celebration of the mythology of the legend of the Doctor”.

The series will make use of 3D in the special episode, with Moffat saying “it had to be part of the plot”. He says that another goal was to “make 3D a bit scary”.

“I wouldn’t say it’s in every scene, but there is an element of the show that exploits the fact of 3D.”

As well as innovative 3D, the episode features nail-biting action stunts, including Matt Smithhanging from a wire under the TARDIS, 90 feet in the air.

“They used the biggest crane I think they had ever brought to Trafalgar Square. I really had to persuade them to let me go up,” Smith said.

Joanna Page as Elizabeth I. Credit: BBC

David Tennant relished the chance to have his Doctor come face to face with Smith’s, describing the scenario as “delicious”, “completely new” and “not something you come across in a lot of drama”.

However, he revealed that the making of the episode was not without its worries.

“You put aside the idea that you’re making a moment in television history. The pressure of that would sort of paralyse you really,” he said.

Joanna Page revealed that her character, Elizabeth I, will share an amorous moment with Tennant’s Doctor – but that freezing filming conditions did not lend themselves to romance.

“Everyone is probably jealous, thinking she gets to kiss the tenth Doctor and it’s all romantic, but it’s not; my lips were numb and my hands were chapped,” she said.

The 75 minute special episode will be shown on BBC One on 23rd November, as well as being simulcast in cinema screens in 75 countries across the world. Many fans were left disappointed after tickets sold out for UK screenings almost immediately.